Action Craft Boats offers factory-direct sales

Action Craft Boats said it is offering factory-direct ordering for customers outside its dealers' territories to provide consumers with wider availability to its semicustom boats.

The company builds bay and flats fishing models, including a convertible and its ACE line.

In southwest Florida, from Everglades City north to the Panhandle, and territories beyond the Southeast, Action Craft Boats will work directly with consumers.

Outside these areas, customers can visit Action Craft dealers such as Marine Warehouse Center of Wilmington, N.C., or Waylen Bay Marine of St. Augustine, Fla. The company said some people prefer this method because of the after-sales service and support and ready availability of small accessories and fishing gear.

Action Craft said it has grown significantly since new owners and management took over in 2012. The company said it increased production by 32 percent last year from 2014. It has set a 2016 goal of boosting manufacturing productivity by 42 percent.